PRATT, Kan.- A chippy, conference affair was exactly the boost the Beavers needed, as Pratt used a last-minute charge to beat the Broncbusters 83-76. 

Malcolm Whitlow posted a team-high 22 points on 7-13 attempts, as he was also 7-8 from the free throw line. Whitlow also had six rebounds and five assists as the conductor of the Beaver offense. Tommy Thomas and Cam Morris also recorded double-figures in points, managing 17 and 10, respectively. Julian Eziukwu dominated the low block for the Beavers, grabbing 15 rebounds, six of which came on the offensive end of the floor. 

Neither team was efficient from three-point range, but the Beavers outrebounded the Broncbusters 46-36, and were the better team near the rim, outscoring Garden City 44-24 in the paint. 

The first-half opened with Garden City attaining a 22-14 lead after the first 11 minutes or so, though the Beavers went on a 14-6 run over the next six minutes to tie the game at 28-28. The first-half ended with Garden City leading 35-33. In a game that saw 16 lead changes and 11 tie scores, the second-half was a burden on nail-biters. 

Both teams exchanged body blows to open the final 20 minutes of play, though Garden City changed the energy in the Beaver Dome upon seizing a 56-48 lead at the 11:30 mark. That lead extended to 61-49 with 10:50 left on the clock. 

The Beavers persisted however, as Pratt used the next six minutes to go on a 20-6 run to lead 69-67 with just over five minutes remaining. Garden City countered back with a 7-2 run of its own to regain the lead at 74-71. Whitlow had other plans however, as consecutive buckets gave Pratt the 75-74 go-ahead with only three minutes left. 

Pratt's aggressiveness at the rim paid dividends, as the Beavers final seven points came at the free-throw line, while the Broncbusters were unable to find a clutch shot down the stretch.